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"We must not forget these girls"
Two distinguished Canadian soldiers make a plea (earlier post here): A cowardly attack on a group of schoolgirls should galvanize our nation to help defeat extremism in Afghanistan Last week, two men with malicious purpose aimed a stream of acid at the eyes and faces of a group of girls, as young as 14, whose only offence was a wish to go to school. And as punishment, at least two of those girls will never look the light of day again; their friends and countless hundreds of other little girls eq
21 Nov 2008, 9:46 am | click here for more
Afghanistan: Mundane Matters The Media Misses
U.S. Marines of Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment leave a CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan after turning over their forward operating base to U.S. Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment on Nov. 17, 2008. DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Chad J. Pulliam, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released) From Strategy Page: November 20, 2008: The growing number of American troops with operating experience in Afghanistan has led to a style of war that is not fully appreci
21 Nov 2008, 8:00 pm | click here for more
Global Trends 2025: Estimates of US National Intelligence Council
Global Trends 2025: National Intelligence Council November 21, 2008 Excerpts:Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq: Local Trajectories and Outside Interests Developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq will critically affect regional stability, if not the global order. By 2025, the trajectories of these three states probably will have diverged sharply. In 2025, Afghanistan may still evince significant patterns of tribal interaction and conflict. With the exception of the Taliban interlude, Afgha
21 Nov 2008, 7:59 pm | click here for more
Number of juveniles held at Guantanamo almost twice official Pentagon figure
On Sunday, the Pentagon admitted that 12 juveniles — those below the age of 18 at the time their alleged crimes took place — have been held at Guantanamo Bay (as opposed to the figure of eight that was submitted to the UN in May). But a RAW STORY count, drawn from the Pentagon’s possess records, reveals that the total number of juveniles held at Guantanamo is at least 22 — nearly double the official Pentagon figure .[...] The following is a list of the 22 juveniles held at Guantanamo: Including O
21 Nov 2008, 7:52 pm | click here for more
Middle East Institute Honors Aitzaz Ahsan for "Courage in Defending the Rule of Law in Pakistan"
MEI Podcast Aitzaz Ahsan receives MEI award for "Courage in Defending the Rule of Law in Pakistan", November 21, 2008 To hear the podcast, click here Also look:Obama should not destabilise Pakistan: experts The News, November 22, 2008 WASHINGTON: President-elect Barack Obama should break with the flawed “war on terror” policy of the Bush Administration and devise a regional, realistic strategy on Afghanistan with clarity of objectives, ensuring that it will not destabilise Pakistan, leading P
21 Nov 2008, 7:19 pm | click here for more
Case against Mohammed Jawad collapses
In a major development, it looks as if the war crimes trial against Mohammed Jawad has collapsed. Last month the Military Commissions judge threw out Jawad’s confession to Afghan authorities, ruling that it had been extracted through torture. This week the same judge threw out Jawad’s confession given to US authorities upon his being turned over to the US, ruling that the latter cobfession was the result of fear continuing from his Afghan torture: in part because the U.S. interrogator used tec
21 Nov 2008, 6:46 pm | click here for more
Bild des Tages
HOSPITAL VISIT U.S. Navy Lt. Jessica Gandy, public affairs officer for the International Security Assistance Force, gives a stuffed kangaroo to cheer up an Afghan girl in the Indira Ghandi kids’s Hospital Burn Ward, Kabul, Afghanistan. International servicemembers assigned to ISAF gave stuffed animals and crayons to the kids in the hospital. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Monica R. Nelson, Nov. 20, 2008. (Bildquelle: U.S. Department of Defence.mil)
21 Nov 2008, 6:25 pm | click here for more
the ever rising number of child soldiers at Guantanamo
Last week the U.C. Davis middle for the Study of Human Rights in the Americas reported that, despite Defense Departmen t claims to the UN that only eight juveniles had been held at Guantanamo, the true number was at least 12 and possibly much higher. The DoD then admitted their “mistake” and revised their UN report Andy Worthington reports today that the true number is at least 22. Evidently no one in the Defense Department passed elementary arithmetic, or truth-telling: Number of juveniles held
21 Nov 2008, 6:09 pm | click here for more
What Is This Child Thinking?
I’m guessing that this child is thinking “WTF is that?!” Not a lot of kangaroos in Afghanistan. KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 20, 2008) Lt. Jessica Gandy, public affairs officer for the International Security Assistance Force, gives a stuffed kangaroo to cheer up an Afghan girl in the Indira Ghandi kids’s Hospital Burn Ward. International service members assigned to ISAF gave stuffed animals and crayons to the kids in the downtown Kabul, Afghanistan hospital. The hospital budget is $400 p
21 Nov 2008, 4:06 pm | click here for more
Poor Security Imperils Afghan Vote, Report Warns
'needy Security Imperils Afghan Vote, Report Warns', The Globe and Mail, 21 November 2008 EXCERPT: "The impending elections in Afghanistan risk being undermined by needy security and other problems that could make the votes a flashpoint for ethnic and tribal feuds, according to an unpublished study. The 21-page briefing paper by Grant Kippen, a Canadian who previously chaired the country's Electoral Complaints Commission, calls on the international community to immediately take a greater role in
21 Nov 2008, 2:57 pm | click here for more
UN Security Council On Fact-Seeking Mission In Afghanistan
'UN Security Council On Fact-Seeking Mission In Afghanistan', AFP, 21 November 2008 EXCERPT: "The UN Security Council on Saturday will go on a fact-finding mission in Afghanistan to evaluate the ongoing situation in a country wracked by 30 years of war and violence and considered a major global security threat. Headed by Italy's UN Ambassador, Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, the delegation includes representatives of the 15 council members, including Afghan-born US Ambassador to the United Nations
21 Nov 2008, 2:47 pm | click here for more
Could Pomegranates Replace Poppies?
'Afghanistan-Brand Pomegranates: Could They Replace Poppies As Country's Biggest Cash Crop?', Los Angeles Times, 21 November 2008 EXCERPT: "This ancient land is telling the world that it has a trendy, new replacement for its dreaded poppy crop: sweet, juicy pomegranates. The country will stamp a logo on every boxes of the pomegranate for export: a drawing of the sliced, red fruit with seeds spilling out and a label that announces, 'Anar, Afghan Pomegranate.' Anar is the word for pomegranate in v
21 Nov 2008, 2:38 pm | click here for more
Pakistan to raise Malegaon-Samjhauta link in next round of talks
New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Even as India awaits Pakistan’s response on the Indian embassy blast in Kabul at next week’s meeting of home secretaries, it is bracing up for Pakistan to lift the alleged ...
21 Nov 2008, 2:25 pm | click here for more
Pakistan to raise Malegaon-Samjhauta link in next round of talks
Even as India awaits Pakistan's response on the Indian embassy blast in Kabul at next week's meeting of home secretaries, it is bracing up for Pakistan to lift the alleged links of an Indian army officer with the Samjhauta Express bombing last year.
21 Nov 2008, 1:33 pm | click here for more
US Airpower Summary; Nov. 21, 2008: B-1Bs Deter Insurgents
A B-1B Lancer receives fuel over Afghanistan from a KC-10 Extender. B-1Bs can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary. The B-1B is assigned to the 34th Expeditionary Squadron and the KC-10 is assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon.) Dispatches from the Front: SOUTHWEST ASIA, Nov. 21, 2008 -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and Inte
21 Nov 2008, 12:20 pm | click here for more
A review from Baghdad: The Forever War
Baghdad: what you don't want to know In James Meek’s recent novel We Are Now Beginning Our Descent, a troubled hack returns from Afghanistan, goes to a dinner party in Clapham. The host, a wealthy leftist, making conversation, just trying to be polite, asks “What was it like in Afghanistan?” Our hero replies, “You don’t want to know.” The host tells him of course he wants to know, why wouldn’t he want to know? Our hero continues to demur, the host continues to insist. Finally the answer, clear
21 Nov 2008, 12:16 pm | click here for more
Pakistan to raise Malegaon-Samjhauta link in next round of talks
Pakistan to lift Malegaon-Samjhauta link in next round of talks November 21st, 2008 - 11:47 pm ICT by IANS - New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Even as India awaits Pakistan's response on the Indian embassy blast in Kabul at next week's meeting of home secretaries, it is bracing up for Pakistan to ... Posted in South Asia, | No Comments »
21 Nov 2008, 11:47 am | click here for more
War News for Friday, November 21, 2008
MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of A Multi-National Force – West Marine of a non-combat related incident somewhere in Al Anbar province on Wednesday, November 19th. No other details were released. MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of A Multi-National Force – middle Soldier of a non-combat related incident somewhere in Iraq on Thursday, November 20th. No other details were released. MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of A Multi-National Force – North Soldier of a non-combat related incident in Mosul
21 Nov 2008, 11:43 am | click here for more
Four Afghan Civilians Killed In Suicide Attack
Four Afghan Civilians Killed In Suicide Attack Kabul - Four civilians were killed and four soldiers were injured by a suicide attack in southern Afghanistan earlier today. A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle in front of an...
21 Nov 2008, 10:58 am | click here for more